Muscle as you age...

[The Dude]

When I was younger if I took a week or so off, it took a couple days for me to get back into it. Now I routinely miss a week or more and I at least maintain my strength if not get stronger.
This year I made a half hearted attempt to lose weight and size. I went to the gym 2 - 3 times a week. I only ate when I was hungry, and I pretty much did my doses when and if I remembered. I also did cardio 3 - 4 times a week. Not only did I not lose weight, I got a little stronger and possibly bigger.
I wonder how long it would take for me to actually lose muscle?? Do you think its due to the time I've been training or perhaps my age (33)?
Kind of weird things I'm noticing as I age

 

[fstr03svtcobra]

I am youngish and if I take a week off or eat super crappy for a week or so I look dramatically different. But 24 hrs of clean eating and a good training session and I look completely different. It's crazy how it works.

 

[mcgaret]

My body has about a 2 week response. I can eat crap and not work out and I still look good. Its about 2 weeks later it starts
to show. Same the other way. Tighten diet and hit it hard and takes about 2 weeks to really notice looking different.

 

[Presser]

When I was younger if I took a week or so off, it took a couple days for me to get back into it. Now I routinely miss a week or more and I at least maintain my strength if not get stronger.
This year I made a half hearted attempt to lose weight and size. I went to the gym 2 - 3 times a week. I only ate when I was hungry, and I pretty much did my doses when and if I remembered. I also did cardio 3 - 4 times a week. Not only did I not lose weight, I got a little stronger and possibly bigger.
I wonder how long it would take for me to actually lose muscle?? Do you think its due to the time I've been training or perhaps my age (33)?
Kind of weird things I'm noticing as I age

I have found that the older I got the easier it was to maintaine my muscle mass! I could take off months and still look the same. I recently just took an entire year off due to injury and going through fertility treatments with the wife, no gear, no gym, nothing and I kept most everything I had worked so hard for all those years and when I went back I was still strong and filled back out quite nicely , so yes I would say age makes a big difference. When I was in my early and mid 20's if I took off from the gym for more then a week or two I could see and feel the difference in my body and strength depleting , but now in my 30's I have found that what I have now is always mine no matter how long I stop working out, we'll maybe not no matter how long but I know for a fact I was able to keep everything with over a year off

 

[The Dude]

I have found that the older I got the easier it was to maintaine my muscle mass! I could take off months and still look the same. I recently just took an entire year off due to injury and going through fertility treatments with the wife, no gear, no gym, nothing and I kept most everything I had worked so hard for all those years and when I went back I was still strong and filled back out quite nicely , so yes I would say age makes a big difference. When I was in my early and mid 20's if I took off from the gym for more then a week or two I could see and feel the difference in my body and strength depleting , but now in my 30's I have found that what I have now is always mine no matter how long I stop working out, we'll maybe not no matter how long but I know for a fact I was able to keep everything with over a year off

That's what I've started noticing. The only thing that negatively affects me is training TOO OFTEN. Other than that I can pretty much eat garbage, miss meals, and everything else and I don't look any different.
I should add that I don't ever take a break from AAS though. I have noticed that I really don't need much though given my size

 

[The Survivor]

I started lifting seriously at the end of 1981 and havent looked back since. Sure had plenty of 1-2 wk layoffs, went thru times of half ass lifting while I was invovled w/other shit but now its like I've gotten "credit" for all the lifting I did and can afford to take a break where I come back bigger and stronger.

I might add I've never been on for 9 months straight like I'm currently on and I still seem to be getting leaner and more cut. Kinda exploded the theory of time off equals time on to clean the recepters. While that maybe true, theres an other side to the story

 

[Presser]

I would also like to mention so i dont confuse anyone, that while age has made it easier to take time off and keep gains better then when i was younger and taking time off, HOWEVER......It is much much harder for me to gain new muscle mass now that im in my 30's! So i just didnt want anyone thinking i was saying i gain better now that im older,lol, cause i dont, however I am always sitting at around 270-280 lbs no matter what or how long im off from gym and everything, i guess cause i put my time in the gym for the last 17 years straight!

BUT I wish i could still gain Lean Muscle Mass Like I did in my 20's,lol

 

[WesleyInman]

I have noticed identical. I train less, take more time off and I am bigger and stronger then I ever have been...naturally.

It's nice, I'm very grateful. I remember in my 20's killing my body, eating 7K calories and doing anything to gain a pound. Now I know my body and I know exactly what makes it tick. I think that is part of it for us.

I turn 35 in a week. I have heard men peak in their late 30s for size and strength. I am looking forward to the next few years...I will peak regardless, guys like us, and girls like us on MC, thats what we do. The average population gets smaller and weaker because they aren't training. I have friends in their late 50's and even 60's I work with..One guy is benching 365 for a few reps at 60 years old. He has trained his whole life.

That my friend, will be us. The people who don't workout will be frail. If my levels start to decrease naturally...HRT will be in order as a backup plan. I look forward to it

 

[Presser]

I have noticed identical. I train less, take more time off and I am bigger and stronger then I ever have been...naturally.

It's nice, I'm very grateful. I remember in my 20's killing my body, eating 7K calories and doing anything to gain a pound. Now I know my body and I know exactly what makes it tick. I think that is part of it for us.

I turn 35 in a week. I have heard men peak in their late 30s for size and strength. I am looking forward to the next few years...I will peak regardless, guys like us, and girls like us on MC, thats what we do. The average population gets smaller and weaker because they aren't training. I have friends in their late 50's and even 60's I work with..One guy is benching 365 for a few reps at 60 years old. He has trained his whole life.

That my friend, will be us. The people who don't workout will be frail. If my levels start to decrease naturally...HRT will be in order as a backup plan. I look forward to it

well i dont know about their late 30's but yeah we peak in our 30's for certain, and i guess it would depend upon each person. And just look at some of the top guys in bodybuilding and their ages....it gives ya motivation for sure. Dexter Jackson comes to mind and thats inspiring for sure!

 

[The Survivor]

There was a youtube vid of Ageless Albert Beckles who competed in the O at age 54 and he claimed he looked better at that age than he did when he was younger. From what the vid I've seen of him recently, hes about 80 and still chest presses 100lb and above dumbells. What a freak....

 

[mcgaret]

There was a youtube vid of Ageless Albert Beckles who competed in the O at age 54 and he claimed he looked better at that age than he did when he was younger. From what the vid I've seen of him recently, hes about 80 and still chest presses 100lb and above dumbells. What a freak....

I was thinking about Albert Beckles and same time guy Johnny Fuller about same age. Guys looked great in mid to late 50's,
good enough for the Olympia. Their muscles looked awsome, it was a muscle maturity from working out so long the younger
guys just didnt have.

 

[WesleyInman]

If anyone saw the Mayweather fight last night they asked him about his age..and his ability. That guy was lightning. I am not a gigantic fan, starting to like him now he's becoming more reasonable..but he was sickening quick. I don't think I have ever seen a guy at any age let alone 36 move that fast.

I actually sprint alot in the summer for cardio...100meters and walk 200...I will do several cycles of that..Was big into the sport in HS/College, went to College on a track scholarship fortunately. Anyways I thought I was fast and could jump then..I'm 75+ lbs heavier and I am extremely better and faster in every event and I don't even try or regularly practice..go figure...to me age is just a number.

 

[MonkeyWrench]

I've been feeling the same, Been at it since I was 19, then at 30 I stepped away for family reasons, finished college, married two kids later, now 36 I'm at a point where I can dedicated time to lifting again, and I can honestly say I feel stronger and bigger now than I've ever been, I was shocked to see the progress I was making. I thought I was over the hill after so long away, but the body seems to remember the way. I hope I have the same success as you guys.